Mark Hutchison reports big haul in latest campaign finance disclosure

By Conor Shine

Published Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014 | 12:39 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 | 11:35 a.m.

Republican Mark Hutchison has raised more than $1 million since June in his race for lieutenant governor, according to campaign finance reports released Tuesday.

The massive haul brings Hutchison’s total fundraising to $2.4 million since he started campaigning in 2013. He’s spent about $2 million on the campaign so far.

Hutchison has already raised five times more than the previous Republican candidate for the same position. Brian Krolicki, the current lieutenant governor, raised $473,000 during his successful 2010 campaign.

The level of spending underscores the interest in a race that has potential national ramifications. The lieutenant governor would step in to replace Gov. Brian Sandoval if he decides to challenge Sen. Harry Reid in the 2016 election. Hutchison, endorsed by Sandoval, is facing off against Democrat Lucy Flores, who has the backing of Reid.

Flores raised $305,000 since June and has raised $737,000 this election cycle.

Candidates in the Nov. 4 election are required to file updated campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State by the end of Tuesday.

Here are highlights from other key races and issues:

Attorney general: Republican Adam Laxalt brought in $658,000 since June, bringing his total fundraising to $1.2 million. He’s spent $879,000. Democrat Ross Miller brought in $843,000 since June, bringing his total to $2.1 million. Miller has spent $1.9 million.

Secretary of state: Democrat Kate Marshall raised $379,000 over the last four months, bringing her total campaign haul to $799,000. She’s spent $712,000 so far. Republican Barbara Cegavske raised $129,000 since June. Her campaign has brought in a total of $323,000 and spent $279,000.

Margin tax: Supporters of a ballot question imposing a tax on businesses to support public education brought in $653,000 since June. All but $3,000 of those contributions to the Education Initiative PAC came from Nevada’s teachers union, the Nevada State Educators Association. The Education Initiative PAC has spent $1.5 million so far supporting Question 3 on the November ballot, which would impose a 2 percent tax on gross revenues on businesses making more than $1 million per year.

The group opposing the ballot question, Coalition to Defeat the Margin Tax Initiative, had an even bigger fundraising haul, bringing in $2.4 million since June. The group has raised $4.7 million total and spent $3.3 million.

Senate District 9: Incumbent Democrat Justin Jones brought in $303,000 since June as he attempts to fend off Republican Becky Harris in a race that could decide control of the state Senate.

Jones has raised a total of $815,000 this election cycle and spent $669,000. Harris raised $170,000 since June, bringing her election total to $431,000.

Clark County sheriff: Assistant Sheriff Joe Lombardo has raised $688,000 to fund his bid for Clark County’s top law enforcement job. Lombardo has raised a total of $1.7 million and has the backing of outgoing Sheriff Doug Gillespie. His opponent, retired Metro Police Capt. Larry Burns, has the backing of the department’s unions. Burns raised $472,000 since June, increasing his total for this election cycle to $926,000.

Governor: Brian Sandoval doesn’t face a serious challenger in his bid for re-election, but that hasn’t stopped money from flowing into his campaign. The Republican governor raised $290,000 over the past four months, bringing his total fundraising haul to $3.7 million since the start of 2013. Sandoval’s commanding position hasn’t stopped his campaign from spending freely. The campaign spent $1.7 million since June. His opponent, Democrat Bob Goodman, has raised $6,975.